Sunny Ball Matricaria is a compact cultivar of feverfew that produces prolific, button-like blooms on stems reaching 28-36 inches tall. Hardy from zones 5 to 9, this open-pollinated variety flowers in 100-110 days and thrives as both a fresh and dried cut flower. Its dense, bushy habit and reliable performance make it a workhorse in the cutting garden, delivering abundant blooms from a single planting.
—
—
5-9
36in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The prolific flower production is what sets this variety apart; each plant becomes a fountain of delicate button-like blooms ideal for cutting fresh or drying. Its compact growth habit means you can tuck multiple plants into modest garden space without them sprawling, and the 100-110 day timeline gets you to peak bloom reliably within a single season. Fall planting is the secret to longer stems and earlier flowers, giving you an edge over spring-sown plants.
Sunny Ball Matricaria excels as a cut and dried flower. Harvest the flower clusters at three-quarters open for fresh arrangements, or wait until they're almost fully open for drying. The abundant, uniform blooms make it particularly suited to florists and home gardeners who value long-lasting, low-maintenance flowers for both vases and dried arrangements.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds 5-7 weeks before your transplant date in either spring or fall. Gently press the seeds into the growing medium but do not cover them, as light aids germination. Bottom water or mist carefully to avoid displacing the seeds. Germination occurs best between 55-70°F. Transplant seedlings into cell packs or 3-4 inch pots 2-4 weeks after sowing, then harden off before moving them to the garden.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings after the last spring frost, or in fall for earlier blooms and longer stems. Space plants 8 inches apart. Fall planting is recommended for superior results.
For fresh cut flowers, harvest when the flower cluster is three-quarters open. For dried flowers, wait until the cluster is almost fully open. Cut stems in the morning after dew dries for the longest vase life.
Deadheading spent flower clusters encourages continued blooming throughout the season. The compact growth habit means minimal pruning is required; the plant naturally maintains its neat, bushy form.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.